2015 Ford Mustang Ecoboost First Drive
We’re the first to take a spin in a production Ecoboost Mustang coupe – but can it live up to the hype?
Imthishan Giado
Fortune favors the brave, they say. The new Mustang still hasn’t actually been launched in this region yet, but when I spotted this bright Competition Orange coupe lurking around the car, you know there was no stopping me!
After several spins around the autocross course, I can give you some initials impressions on this 2.3-lite 310bhp Ecoboost coupe. Like all modern Ford turbos, there’s a bit of lag on throttle tip-in (no doubt to help fuel economy) then power comes on strong around 3000rpm and keeps up to all the way to 6k. The engine noise is muted when cruising, but there’s plenty of induction noise when you rev it and a big helping of turbo whoooshes and chuff! from the wastegate. Not melodic, but then this is a car the tuner market will sort out.
Not that there’s much to sort out. The ride is seriously good for a muscle car, the handling is poised, understeer giving way to oversteer predicatably. Electric steering for this new car is best left in Sport mode – it’s too light otherwise – while the six speed auto can be slow to change unless in full Track setting. While the engine will make you think of turbo Japanese coupes from the 90s, the balance and demeanour is European and BMW-esque – which means surprisingly mature. It’s no a rocketship, but I can smell the power waiting to be unlocked by the aftermarket. The interior is good, too; pleasing shapes, comfortable seats and excellent gauges. Only some hard plastics in the lower half of the cabin let it down.
We’ve get this car in again for a full review ASAP – Shahzad is already salivating…
